The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-03-24
PARKERsBIrRG w VA
March Is. 1887. {

March 10. 1887.
To the Editor of the Standards:
Perhaps few items from this place
may be not entirely devoid of interest,
even if not written with special re-
gard to rhetoric.
We find this fourishing town of
from eight to ten thousand population
and rapidly putting on city airs. Here
is fine railroad bridge across the
Ohio, said to be the longest in the U.
S. also another across the Little
Kanawha over which passes the Ohio
River r. r.
This road is completed from Pitts
burgh to PIT. Pleasant, and the re-
naming part to connect with Cincin-
natl will be rapidly pushed to compile
tion in the coming summer.
Passing through the depot, we no.
ticed huge piles of freight throughout
it's entire length, giving evidence of
immense r. r. traffic. Here are
the Camden Oil Refinery, and two
others little less pretentious.
These however give employment to
very few men, and are said to be rath-
er on the decline.
Two large saw-mills, running both
circular and band saws are rapidly con-
verting the forests of the interior into
building material One of the notice
able features of the city is the Custom
House. 1t is located in the business
portion of the city, making the P.
o. convenient of access to all,
The building is Of brick, three stor-
les high, and has cut stone corners,
window-caps, sills, &c.
The free delivery postal system is
anticipated in the near future.
They are now putting in the plant
for Electric light, and by June they
expect to be grandly illuminated.
On the summit Of prospect hill, in
the angle between the two rivers may
be seen two immense tanks which ap-
pear to be about 45 ft. high by go #.
In diameter.
These are the reservoirs for water
which is forced up from the Ohio river.
This water, notwithstanding the tur-
bid condition of the river, is, by the
time it reaches consumers, very nearly
clear, and most excellent.
Among the convenient and pleasant
features of the city, some very object
ionable ones are observable. Promi-
nent among these is the miserable
condition of the sidewalks, mostly
narrow, with very rough pavements
or none at all. He who can put down
good substantial pavement at fair
price would doubtless find here a
fruitful field Of labor.
Many parts of the city are also
badly in need Of a general cleaning up
in order to be in any degree healthful.
This is emphatically a city of
churches. We are informed that they
number thirteen. Many of these are
large and some of them really artistic.
Dropping into the M. E. Church
North-on Sabbath afternoon at 2:30
we were forcibly reminded of our own
jackson S. S. The room was crowded
with men, women and children-332
in number-all seeming interested,
wide awake and enthusiastic. The
singing was led by an Orchestra con-
sisting Of Piano, Organ, two Comets,
Baritone, Alto, Clarinet, Flute and
first and second Violins. Imagine all
these, with some three hundred voices
joining in some Of the choicest selec-
tons from the Epworth, and you have
the scene before you.
This P M we climbed the hill on
the lower side of the Kanawha to the
remains of old fort Boreman. This
fort was built for the protection Of
the city during the late ''onpleasant-
ness" The view from the summit is
very fine, taking in the Ohio valley
for several miles, including both Blen-
nerhasset and Meals islands.
Space forbids further writing.
SUMMERS & HANK.